By supporting real journalism, you support real democracy

“Real News, Real Journalism” is more than a subscription slogan for the UMG-represented St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It is a civic necessity in these tumultuous times, when many rights we hold sacred — especially the freedom of the press — are under assault.

We wholeheartedly agree with Society of Professional Journalists president Lynn Walsh’s statement of President Donald Trump’s latest attack on the media:

“When President Trump continues his anti-media, anti-press rhetoric, tip-toes around questions from journalists and chooses not to provide support for information he shares, the American public is the biggest loser. The public is entitled to ask the White House, Mr. Trump and other government officials and employees questions, whether the topics are something they feel are newsworthy or appropriate. Journalists fill the role for the public by working every day to hold them accountable, ask about policies and question facts, figures and information being shared by the government. Journalists will continue to do their jobs to hold this administration and all government officials accountable so the public can have the information it is entitled to.”

You can support real journalism by subscribing to the Post-Dispatch. Subscribers to the digital access or print edition delivery (Sundays, three days or seven days) plus digital access also get a free 52-week digital subscription to the Washington Post.

That has huge value these days. Post journalists, represented by the Baltimore-Washington Guild, are doing a remarkable job of chronicling history as it unfolds in our nation’s capital.

We Are the United Media Guild

The NewGuild traces it roots to the groundbreaking American Journalists Association, founded in 1919 in St. Louis as a trade association for journalists. Although not connected to organized labor, the AJA sought to improve working conditions for journalists at the Post-Dispatch, the Globe-Democrat, the Star-Times, the Daily Record and the Republic newspapers. Post-Dispatch music and drama critic R.L. Stokes was president of the fledgling group.

After the AJA lost influence, famed journalist Heywood Broun helped found the American Newspaper Guild in 1933. St. Louis became the 47th local to join, bringing the Post-Dispatch, Globe-Democrat and Star-Times into the new labor union. In time St. Louis became a one-newspaper town with only the Post-Dispatch surviving. But along the way Local 47 expanded by adding additional units – including the Labor Tribune, the St. Louis Review and KSDK-TV – which still exist today.

In 1997 the union, now known as The Newspaper Guild merged with the Communications Workers of America. Our Local 47 became known officially as TNG-CWA Local 36047. The St. Louis Newspaper Guild broadened its horizons in recent years, bringing the Jobs with Justice organization, the national Truthout web site, the Pekin (Ill.) Daily Times, the Workers Interfaith Network of Memphis, the State Journal-Register of Springfield, Ill., the Rockford Register Star, the Freeport (Ill.) Journal-Standard into the local and the Mid-South Organizing Committee.

After agreeing to merge with the Peoria Newspaper Guild in 2011, our local changed its name to the United Media Guild to reflect its broader reach.

OUR VISION

We welcome the opportunity to help unionize workplaces at media companies and non-profit organizations in the Midwest and Mid-South. We can build strength in numbers by bringing like-minded groups together in a common cause.

OUR COMMITMENT TO JOURNALISM

Organized labor has never been more valuable to its members, especially in the economically distressed media sector. Traditional newspaper, television and radio companies are faltering due to changing technologies, evolving consumer tastes, new media competition, a stagnant economy, tight financial markets and crippling corporate debt.

Corporate cutbacks have gutted many newsrooms and threatened the journalism profession. The United Media Guild is pushing back by fighting for its members and the important work they do for Lee Enterprises, GateHouse, Gannett and other companies.

OUR COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL JUSTICE

Just as journalists play a vital role in a democratic society, so do non-profit organizations and advocacy groups. The UMG and the larger CWA community provide a vehicle for community-minded operations share resources, exchange ideas and work together on important issues.